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brittney_tyler's review against another edition
5.0
Star Rating: 5 stars
Note: This is the 2nd volume in the Redwall series so this will not be an in-depth review.
If anyone has been following my reviews, you will know that I have a deep fascination with middle-grade books told from the perspective of animals. If you don’t know what I am talking about, think Erin Hunter’s Warriors, Survivors, Seekers, or Bravelands, Tui T, Sutherland’s Wings of Fire, or Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole. After enjoying all these series and many others, I decided to read some of the more classic books and series that have similarities to these modern series. The top series on the list was the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, and after reading the 1st book, Redwall, and loving it, I was excited to read the following book, Mossflower.
First off, I need to clear something up as it confused me and I don’t want it to confuse anyone else who decides to pick up this series. Mossflower, although published 2nd, is actually a prequel to the 1st book, Redwall, as it falls back to chronicles the story of Martin the Warrior and the creation of Redwall abbey, events of which were alluded to within the pages of Redwall. Mossflower tells the story of the previously mentioned Martin the Warrior and the creation of the future Redwall abbey as he battled the evil overlord, the wildcat Tsarmina. Tsarmina and her family came out of the North and took over Mossflower after the former leader, the badger Boar the Fighter, left to go on a quest for the supposed home of the fire lizards, Salamandastron. They have systematically been oppressing the people of Mossflower so when Martian the Warrior comes wandering through, looking for a place to call home, he can’t help but assist these people in need. He agrees to go on a quest to find Salamandastron and Boar the Fighter, and I have to admit that his quest was my favorite part of the story, although I liked the entire book.
One of the greatest things in these books is the rich world that Jacques is able to create. Every species has their own culture (although some are interconnected), its own dialect, its own cuisine, and its own amazing settlement. I enjoyed meeting all the different creatures and learning about their similarities and differences to other cultures that we have already met over the course of this series. The amount of effort that he puts into creating his world shocks me as everything is thought out and there are no literally no plot holes or dropped threads. When I read his books, I get completely immersed and that is what I want the most when I am reading as I am an extreme introvert and reading is my escape for the house I never have the courage to leave.
If you want a great classic that actually stands the test of time and that, in my opinion, is better than a lot of the more modern books on shelves today, then you should try Jacques’s work. 5 stars!
Note: This is the 2nd volume in the Redwall series so this will not be an in-depth review.
If anyone has been following my reviews, you will know that I have a deep fascination with middle-grade books told from the perspective of animals. If you don’t know what I am talking about, think Erin Hunter’s Warriors, Survivors, Seekers, or Bravelands, Tui T, Sutherland’s Wings of Fire, or Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole. After enjoying all these series and many others, I decided to read some of the more classic books and series that have similarities to these modern series. The top series on the list was the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, and after reading the 1st book, Redwall, and loving it, I was excited to read the following book, Mossflower.
First off, I need to clear something up as it confused me and I don’t want it to confuse anyone else who decides to pick up this series. Mossflower, although published 2nd, is actually a prequel to the 1st book, Redwall, as it falls back to chronicles the story of Martin the Warrior and the creation of Redwall abbey, events of which were alluded to within the pages of Redwall. Mossflower tells the story of the previously mentioned Martin the Warrior and the creation of the future Redwall abbey as he battled the evil overlord, the wildcat Tsarmina. Tsarmina and her family came out of the North and took over Mossflower after the former leader, the badger Boar the Fighter, left to go on a quest for the supposed home of the fire lizards, Salamandastron. They have systematically been oppressing the people of Mossflower so when Martian the Warrior comes wandering through, looking for a place to call home, he can’t help but assist these people in need. He agrees to go on a quest to find Salamandastron and Boar the Fighter, and I have to admit that his quest was my favorite part of the story, although I liked the entire book.
One of the greatest things in these books is the rich world that Jacques is able to create. Every species has their own culture (although some are interconnected), its own dialect, its own cuisine, and its own amazing settlement. I enjoyed meeting all the different creatures and learning about their similarities and differences to other cultures that we have already met over the course of this series. The amount of effort that he puts into creating his world shocks me as everything is thought out and there are no literally no plot holes or dropped threads. When I read his books, I get completely immersed and that is what I want the most when I am reading as I am an extreme introvert and reading is my escape for the house I never have the courage to leave.
If you want a great classic that actually stands the test of time and that, in my opinion, is better than a lot of the more modern books on shelves today, then you should try Jacques’s work. 5 stars!
ladyalanna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mhedges1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sweetmongoose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
drizzlybear's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
salad anna scone
notesurfer's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
elizabeth_noel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tstreets's review against another edition
4.0
Mossflower has all the charm and character of Redwall, along with a lively new cast of characters. Reading the story of Martin the Warrior, so important in Redwall, and of the genesis of Redwall Abbey, was a delight.
vickeyfoggin's review against another edition
5.0
Rereading this series in chronological order for the first time since middle school. This story of the cheeky prince of mousethieves Gonff and the brave warrior Martin teaming up to lead the residents of Mossflower Woods in rebellion against the tyrannical wildcat Tsarmina was one of my favourites. This was a joy to reread.